Friday, August 17, 2007

Here's something I wanted to share. So many of us do so much better when we are comfortable with a presentation and therefore with ourselves. Scripts are critical to staying on point, or on task, and are ultimately considerate of the listener. Gloria and I pieced together some script guidance for the PIOTB petition drive, and here it is--

Dear Tim--

Some of you have asked for some scripting to assist in "cutting to the chase" in the Put It On The Ballot (PIOTB) petition drive, so here goes--please feel free to email us back with any suggestions, additions, or emendations.

So often, we wonder what to say and how to say it when it comes to asking our neighbors for signatures in a petition drive. What are the perfect words to charm, cajole, and convince? Should I talk a little or talk a lot? Should I inform fully or work in sound bytes? What will it take to get the job done?

In this case, the job entails getting 46,000 valid signatures by August 24th, so we have to be brief and to the point. Here's what I've found works for me, or what I've observed works best for others.

--It's a petition to put the sales tax issue on the ballot, so we can ALL vote on it.

FILLER FACTS, IF IT TAKES MORE:

--As of October 1st, our sales tax will increase 1/4%

--We will begin paying 7 and 3/4 percent

--Two of three county commissioners decided this

--We believe the voters of Cuyahoga County should decide this

--(Question: Isn't this for the convention center, or for the medmart?) Answer: That is what we were told. But, the resolution says it is for the general fund. (this is stated on your petition in the resolution area)

--This is almost a million dollars a week--42 million dollars a year--880 million dollars over twenty years--We feel the voters of Cuyahoga County should decide to spend that kind of money, and not just two county commissioners.

(Don't spend time with a person wanting to debate with you. There are 30 signers for every three who don't want to sign. The debaters almost never sign and waste your time. Thank them courteously, beaming that winning smile, and turn your attention to somebody else. Life is too short...)

THE SENDOFF:

Thank you very much!

See you at the polls in March!

Hope this helps shorten your learning curve and gets you rollingfaster quicker! Tell us about your successes! Have fun! This is by far theeasiest petition drive we've ever done!